Machine for forming heel seat parts on high heeled shoe soles



Dec. 8, 1931. V E J. GOODWIN 1,835,489

MACHINE FOR FORMING HEEL SEAT PARTS ON HIGH HEELED SHOE SOLES Filed Dec- 4, 1930 -Zdwd mm Patented Dec. 8,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE EDWARD J. GOODWIN, OF HAVERHILL, MASSACHUSETTS MACHINE FOR FORMING HEEL SEAT PARTS ON HIGH I-IEELED SHOE SOLES Application filed December 4, 1930.

This invention relates to a machine or adjunct employed in making shoes having high heels of the Louis or the Cuban type, and usually made chiefly of wood.

The outer sole of the type of shoes in the manufacture of which the machine is used, is

of sole leather and is split transversely from 1 its heel end forward, a suitable distance so that the heel end includes an inner layer constituting the flesh side, and a thin outer layer constituting the grain side.

The outer layer is relatively thin and is cemented to and entirely covers the breast of the heel.

The inner layer is considerably thicker and extends rearward from the junction of the two layers and overlaps the heel portion of the flange of the shoe upper, said portion and the inner layer collectively constituting a heel seat on which the concave end of the wood heel bears.

It is necessary to reduce the area of Figure 2 is a side View of a portion of a shoe on which the machine is intended to operate, the heel being shown by dotted lines.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary side View, showing a portion of the machine and a portion of the shoe.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary perspective View, showing a portion of the shoe before the area of the inner layer of the outer sole is reduced, a portion of the heel being shown by dotted lines.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary sectional view,

r on line 5-5 of Figure 1, showing the shoe and the jack or member which supports it displaced.

Figure 6 is a View similar to Figure 5,

showing the shoe and 0 to the machine.

jack operatively related or tab 17a, which bears on the flange portion Serial No. 499,955.

Figure 7 is a fragmentary perspective View, showing an element of the inner layer reducing means and the inner layer reduced in area.

The same reference characters indicate the same parts in all of the figures.

In the drawings, 12 designates the upper, and 13 the sole leather outsole of the shoe. 14 designates the heel portion of the usual upper flange or margin which is turned in wardly on a last, the heel portion let being pleated as usual, and constituting a portion of an approximately convex heel seat. 15 designates the heel which has a concave end conforming to said heel seat. 2

The outsole is transversely split from its heel end a suitable distance forward to provide a thin outer layer 16, which includes the grain side of the sole, and a thicker inner layer 17 which includes the flesh side.

In making the shoe, the heel is secured to the heel seat of the shoe in the usual way, the grain layer 16 being applied and cemented to the breast face of the heel, and the flesh layer 17 overlapping the flange portion 14 of the upper.

Before securing the heel, the area of the upper layer is cut away to provide the outer portion of the layer with a reduced portion s0 14 and is oflset inwardly from the outer margin of said portion, as indicated by Figure 7, so that it is entirely covered by the heel and occupies the central, deepest part of the cup or concave end of the heel.

My improved machine characterized by means for reducing the area of the inner layer 17 comprises a base 20 with which is movably connected a shoe-supporting member 21, preferably a jack formed to occupy the heel portion of the interior of the inverted shoe, although said member may be a last occupying the entire interior if desired. The member 21 has an upwardly facing supporting face 21a located at a predetermined height and adapted to bear on the heel end of the inner sole of the shoe.

The machine comprises also a cross head or carrier 22, adapted to be reciprocated toward and from the face 21a on guides 23, 100

fixed to the base. Any suitable mechanism may be provided for reciprocating the carrier.

24; designates a cutting die secured to the carrier 22, and preferably vertically adjustable thereon by means including a hand wheel 25. The die 24 is adapted to cut away a marginal portion of the layer 17 and change its area from that shown by Figure 4L to that shown by Figure 7, the form of the die being such that the inner layer includes the reduced portion or tab 17 a and shoulders 18 shown by Figure 7.

27 designates a cutting bed which supports the inner layer 17 while the die is acting on it. Said bed is a metal plate which is of such thickness that it is adapted to be interposed between the flange portion 14 and the inner layer 17, as shown by Figure 6.

The cutting bed is loosely supported above the base 20, preferably by four members 29, preferably posts fixed to and rising from the base. Said members have upwardly facing seats 29a located preferably slightly above or higher than the bearing face 21a of the shoe-supporting member 21, as shown by Figure 1. The bed rests loosely on the seats 29a and is free to be displaced upwardly to an extent limited by stop members spaced above the seats and formed by the heads of confining screws 30 secured to the posts. The bed is therefore adapted to conform automatically to Variations in the thickness of the tab 17a andflange portion 14, and is caused to press said flange portion and tab downwardly when the carrier 22 is operated to cause the die 24 to act on the layer 17, and thereby compact the heel seat formed by said flange portion and tab.

The machine is operated before the heel is attached to the heel seat. The shoe without the lieelis applied to the supporting memher or jack 21 while the latter is displaced, shown by Figure 5. The jack and shoe are then moved to the position shown by Figure 6, the bed 27 being at the same time interposed between the flange portion 14 and layer 17, the layer 16 being displaced. After the operation of the machine the heel is attached to the shoe, as usual, and the outer layer16 is secured to the breast.of the heel.

When the heel is of maximum height the length of the outer sole is increased, as indicated by Figure 2, to provide an outer layer 16 of sufficient length to cover the breast.

The machine preferably includes means for cutting away the outer end of the layer 17, so that said layer exposes a part of the flange portion 14, as shown by Figure 4, the object being to enable the operator to properly place the concave end of the heel on the heel seat before marking the sole to indicate the location of the cut subsequently by this die includes two transverse elements to register with the breast of the heel, location of which is determined by placing the heel temporarily on the shoe and marking on the sole the location of its breast. If the outsole projects beyond the heel end of the sole correct placement of the heel is not possible, wherefore the excess length of the outsole must be cut off.

To this end the machine may be provided with cutters 32 and a cooperating bed or block 33, one attached to the carrier 22, and the other to the base 20, the cutters being formed to slice off the rear end of the layer 17.

I claim: I

A machine of the character stated, comprising a base, a shoe-supporting member movably supported by the base and formed to enter an inverted shoe, said member hav ing an upwardly facing supporting face located at a predetermined height and adapted to bear on the heel end of the inner sole of the shoe, a carrier movable toward and from said face, a cutting die fixed to the carrier and adapted to form a reduced tab forming a heel seat portion on one of the layers of the transversely split outer sole of the shoe, fixed plate-supporting members having upwardly facing seats located close to the bearing face of the shoe-supporting member, fixed stop members located above said seats, and a thin bed plate constituting a cutting bed for said die, said plate being vertically movable between the seats and the stop members, so that the plate is adapted to conform automatically to the thickness of the heel seat formed by the said tab and the inturned flange of the heel portion. of the upper, the arrangement being such that pressure of the cutting die on the bed plate causesthe plate to compress said heel seat portions and thereby compact the heel seat formed thereby.

In testimony whereof I have afiixed my signature.

EDWARD J. GOODWIN. 

